UN General Assembly

Definition

The UN General Assembly is the main deliberative, policymaking, and representative organ of the United Nations. It is composed of all 193 member states and serves as a forum for multilateral discussion of international issues and the adoption of resolutions on a wide range of topics.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The UN General Assembly meets annually in regular sessions, typically from September to December, at the UN Headquarters in New York City.
2. Each member state has one vote in the General Assembly, and decisions on important questions, such as peace and security, admission of new members, and budgetary matters, require a two-thirds majority.
3. The General Assembly can make recommendations to states or to the Security Council on any matter within the scope of the UN Charter, but it cannot make binding decisions on issues of international peace and security.
4. The General Assembly elects the non-permanent members of the Security Council and appoints the Secretary-General upon the recommendation of the Security Council.
5. The General Assembly can establish subsidiary organs, such as specialized agencies and programs, to carry out its work on various issues.

Review Questions

• Describe the role and function of the UN General Assembly in the context of parliamentary regimes.
  • In the context of parliamentary regimes, the UN General Assembly serves as a forum for multilateral discussion and the adoption of resolutions on a wide range of international issues. As the main deliberative and policymaking organ of the United Nations, the General Assembly provides a platform for member states, including parliamentary democracies, to voice their concerns, negotiate, and reach consensus on global matters. The General Assembly's ability to make recommendations, but not binding decisions, on issues such as peace and security, allows it to play a significant role in shaping the international agenda and influencing the actions of national governments, including those in parliamentary systems.
• Explain how the composition and decision-making process of the UN General Assembly might impact the executive branch in parliamentary regimes.
  • The UN General Assembly is composed of all 193 member states, each with one vote, which can influence the decision-making process and priorities of the executive branch in parliamentary regimes. The need to navigate the diverse interests and positions of the member states in the General Assembly may require the executive branch in a parliamentary system to engage in more multilateral diplomacy, consensus-building, and compromise when formulating and implementing foreign policy. Additionally, the General Assembly's ability to make recommendations on a wide range of issues, including those that may impact the domestic affairs of member states, can potentially constrain or shape the policy decisions of the executive branch in parliamentary regimes.
• Analyze how the relationship between the UN General Assembly and the executive branch in parliamentary regimes can impact the overall balance of power and the functioning of the political system.
  • The relationship between the UN General Assembly and the executive branch in parliamentary regimes can have a significant impact on the balance of power and the overall functioning of the political system. The General Assembly's role as a forum for multilateral discussion and the adoption of resolutions can provide opportunities for the executive branch to garner international support and legitimacy for its policies, but it can also constrain the executive's ability to act unilaterally. The need to navigate the diverse interests and positions of the member states in the General Assembly may require the executive branch to engage in more consensus-building and compromise, potentially shifting the balance of power away from the executive and towards the legislative branch or other domestic stakeholders. Additionally, the General Assembly's ability to make recommendations on a wide range of issues, including those that may impact the domestic affairs of member states, can potentially influence the policy decisions of the executive branch, thereby affecting the overall functioning and stability of the parliamentary regime.

Related terms

UN Security Council: The UN Security Council is responsible for the maintenance of international peace and security. It is composed of 15 members, 5 of which are permanent with veto power.

UN Secretariat: The UN Secretariat is the administrative organ of the United Nations, headed by the Secretary-General, who acts as the chief administrative officer of the organization.

UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC): ECOSOC is responsible for coordinating the economic, social, and related work of the United Nations and its specialized agencies and commissions.